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SB 962

Elections: other; voting and elections database and institute act; create. Creates new act. TIE BAR WITH: SB 0961'26, SB 0963'26

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Sarah Anthony and 18 co-sponsors

Creates a public Michigan voting and elections database and institute to centralize data, support research, and provide free access to election information.

referred to Committee on Election Integrity
#civilrights:other #elections:electionofficials #elections:other #elections:voters #highereducation:stateuniversities #localgovernment:other #stateagencies(existing):state
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Bill Summary · SB 962

Summary of SB 962 (Michigan, 2025-2026)

Purpose and Intent

  • Establishes the "voting and elections database and institute act" to create a centralized, publicly accessible Michigan voting and elections database and an associated institute.
  • Aims to centralize election data from local governments, support research on voting/election practices, and improve public access to election information.

Key Provisions and Changes

  • Creation of Database and Institute

    • By November 5, 2027, the Secretary of State must enter into an agreement with one or more public research universities to create the Michigan voting and elections database and institute.
    • The institute will maintain a central, publicly accessible repository of elections and voting data from all local governments in Michigan and pursue research on voting laws and best practices.
    • The institute functions as a center for research, training, and information on voting systems and election administration.

  • Authorized Activities of the Institute

    • Conduct classes (credit and noncredit).
    • Organize interdisciplinary research groups on voting/elections.
    • Hold seminars on voting and elections.
    • Maintain a nonpartisan, centralized database available at no cost, including data on elections, voter registration, and ballot access.
    • Disseminate election data to the public.
    • Publish books/periodicals related to voting/elections.
    • Provide nonpartisan technical assistance to local governments, scholars, and the public.

  • Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)

    • If the agreement with universities proceeds, the MOU must include:
    • Initial term of at least 25 years.
    • Universities select the director of the database and institute.
    • Secretary of State covers costs to establish the agreement and transfer of data; universities cover other operating costs.

  • Data to be Maintained and Made Public

    • The institute must maintain an electronic archive of election/voting data for at least the prior 12 years and make it publicly available at no cost.
    • Data must include:
    • Population estimates (total, voting-age, citizen voting age) by race/minority status and disability, at the precinct level, year-by-year (based on U.S. Census data such as ACS).
    • Precinct-level election results for all federal, state, and local elections.
    • Voter registration lists, voter history data, polling places, early voting sites, and absent ballot drop boxes.
    • General election maps, precinct configurations, and districting/redistricting plans.
    • Any other data deemed necessary by the institute director.
    • Geospatial formats must be used for maps/polling place data.

  • Cybersecurity and Archival

    • The institute must implement rigorous cybersecurity standards comparable to those of the Department of Technology, Management, and Budget.
    • After 12 years, data can be permanently archived, while still accessible as described.

  • Legal and Evidentiary Aspects

    • Data maintained by the institute may be relied upon in court as evidence, subject to applicable standards.
    • Within 180 days after an election, the Secretary of State must transmit specific datasets (precinct results, voter lists, history data, maps/shapefiles, polling place data) to the institute.

  • Data Requests and Reimbursement

    • State agencies and local governments must timely provide publicly available election and voting data upon request, with prior consultation involving the institute and clerks associations.
    • The Secretary of State must reimburse local governments for costs incurred providing data, up to the limits of the FOIA allowable costs. Local governments must submit verified cost claims within 90 days of data provision; the SOS has 90 days to approve or disapprove.

  • FOIA Considerations

    • After data is posted to the institute's site, a local government is no longer obliged to respond to FOIA requests for that particular data, though the public can still request it via FOIA directed to the institute or other channels.

  • Oversight, Reporting, and Effectiveness

    • The institute can pursue enforcement actions via the Attorney General or designated officers for compliance.
    • The institute must publish an annual end-of-year report detailing priorities and finances within 90 days after fiscal year-end.

  • Effective Date and Conditions

    • Subsections 2 through 13 (the substantive provisions) take effect May 5, 2028.
    • Enactment is contingent on the simultaneous passage of SB 961 and SB 963 (tying-bar).

Who Is Affected

  • State Government

    • Secretary of State: coordination of data transfers, funding for MOUs, and administration of intergovernmental data requests.
    • Department of Technology, Management, and Budget: cybersecurity standards reference.
    • Attorney General: enforcement authority.

  • Local Governments

    • Counties, cities, townships, and other local election jurisdictions: provide data requested by the SOS, potentially incur data provision costs (reimbursed under FOIA cost rules), and coordinate with the institute.

  • Public and Researchers

    • General public gains free, online access to a vetted, centralized repository of election data.
    • Public researchers and universities gain nonpartisan access to data and potential collaboration opportunities.

  • Universities

    • Public research universities selected to host/operate the institute; responsible for most operating costs and for appointing the director.

Timeline Highlights

  • November 5, 2027: Deadline for SOS to establish the university partnership to create the database/institute.
  • May 5, 2028: Substantive provisions take effect.
  • Annually: The institute must publish a financial and priority report within 90 days after fiscal year-end.
  • Within 180 days after each election: SOS transmits specified data sets to the institute.

Note: SB 962 is a tying-bar bill that conditions its own effectiveness on the enactment of SB 961 and SB 963.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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